Summary
In order to elucidate a previously reported discrepancy in the ratio of the lignin concentration in the middle lamella to that in the secondary wall as determined by ultraviolet (UV) microscopy and bromination combined with EDXA, the ultraviolet absorptivity of the lignin and the lignin reactivity towards bromination were compared for black spruce wood (Picea mariana Mill.). In addition, UV microscopy and EDXA techniques were applied to the determination of lignin distribution in the tracheids in order to establish the relationship between the two techniques. The results indicated that, although the ultraviolet absorptivity in different morphological regions is essentially the same, the secondary wall lignin was 1.70 times more reactive towards bromination than the middle lamella lignin. By applying the value of 1.70 as a correction to the EDXA results, the estimated lignin distribution by EDXA was in fairly good agreement with that from UV microscopy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bolker, H. I.; Somerville, N. G. 1962: Ultraviolet spectroscopic studies of lignins in the solid state. I. Isolated lignin preparations. Tappi 45: 826–829
Fergus, B. J.; Goring, D. A. I. 1970: The distribution of lignin in birch wood as determined by ultraviolet microscopy. Holzforschung 24: 118–124
Fergus, B. J.; Procter, A. R.; Scott, J. A. N.; Goring, D. A. I. 1969. The distribution of lignin in sprucewood as determined by ultraviolet microscopy. Wood Sci. Technol. 3: 117–138
Fukazawa, K.; Imagawa, H. 1981: Quantitative analysis of lignin using a UV microscopic image analyzer. Variation within one growth increment. Wood Sci. Technol. 15: 45–55
Musha, Y.; Goring, D. A. I. 1975: Distribution of syringyl and guaiacyl moieties in hardwoods as indicated by ultraviolet microscopy. Wood Sci. Technol. 9:45–58
Saka, S.; Thomas, R. J. 1982: Evaluation of the quantitative assay of lignin distribution by SEM-EDXA technique. Wood Sci. Technol. 16: 1–18
Saka, S.; Thomas, R. J.; Gratzl, J. S. 1978: Lignin distribution: Determination by energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays. Tappi 61 (1): 73–76
Saka, S.; Thomas, R. J.; Gratzl, J. S. 1979: Lignin distribution by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. In: Inglett, G. E., Falkehag, I. F. (Eds.): Dietary Fibers: Chemistry and Nutrition. pp. 15–29 Proceedings of American Chemical Society, Miami, Florida, September, 1978
Saka, S.; Thomas, R. J.; Gratzl, J. S. 1981: Lignin distribution in Douglas-fir and loblolly pine as determined by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. In: The Ekman-Days 1981. SPCI Report No. 38 Vol. 1, pp. 35–42, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Wood and Pulping Chemistry, Stockholm, Sweden, June, 1981
Sarkanen, K. V., Hergert, H. L. 1971: Classification and distribution. In: Sarkanen, K. V.; Ludwig, C. H. (Eds.). Lignins, Occurrence, Formation, Structure and Reactions. New York: Wiley-Interscience pp. 49
Scott, J. A. N.; Procter, A. R.; Ferus, B. J.; Goring, D. A. I. 1969: The application of ultraviolet microscopy to the distribution of lignin in wood: Description and validity of the technique. Wood Sci. Technol. 3: 73–92
Spurr, A. R. 1969: A low-viscosity epoxy embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 26: 31–43
Thomas, R. J.; Pearson, R. G. 1978: Thickness variation in ultramicrotomed wood sections. Wood Fiber 10: 131–137
Whiting, P. 1981: The isolation and characterization of tissue fractions from the middle lamella and secondary wall of black spruce tracheids. Ph. D. Thesis, McGill University, Montreal
Whiting, P.; Favis, B. D.; St-Germain, F. G. T.; Goring, D. A. I. 1981: Fractional separation of middle lamella and secondary wall tissue from spruce wood. J. Wood Chem. Technol. 1: 29–42
Wood, J. R.; Goring, D. A. I. 1971: The distribution of lignin in stem wood and branch wood of Douglas-fir. Pulp Paper Mag. Can. 72 (3): T95–102
Yang, J.-M.; Goring, D. A. I. 1980: The phenolic hydroxyl content of lignin in spruce wood. Can. J. Chem. 58: 2411–2414
Zuluzec, N. J. 1979: Quantitative X-ray microanalysis: Instrumental considerations and applications to material science. In: Hren, J. J., Goldstein, J. I., Joy, D. C. (Eds.): Introduction to Analytical Electron Microscopy pp. 130. New York, London: Plenum Press
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The authors would like to thank Dr. J.-F. Revol and Dr. M. Tsuji for their assistance during this study
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saka, S., Whiting, P., Fukazawa, K. et al. Comparative studies on lignin distribution by UV microscopy and bromination combined with EDXA. Wood Sci. Technol. 16, 269–277 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353151
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353151